Residents of Shauri Moyo estate in Kamukunji, Nairobi, took to the streets on Friday to protest the ongoing vandalism of the area’s only mosque, located on Heshima Road.
The mosque’s roof has been removed, and parts of the upper structure severely damaged, sparking outrage among the local Muslim community.
Following Friday prayers, residents urged the government to intervene, accusing individuals with vested interests of attempting to grab the mosque’s land.
Ahmed Kombo, an elder in the community, alleged that powerful developers, in collaboration with former mosque committee members, were pushing to convert the site into a private hospital.
“They told us they were going to renovate the mosque, but we later discovered they wanted to take over the land,” said Kombo.
The mosque serves as both a place of worship and a school for local Muslim children.
Residents claim a questionable 20-year lease agreement was signed without public participation, raising concerns over transparency.
Local leaders, including Kamukunji Deputy County Commissioner Fredrick Muli and MCA Paul Ndungu, have been approached to stop the destruction.
The residents are calling for swift action to safeguard the mosque, which they consider a vital community resource and a symbol of their heritage.
